Ray, in Kai’s body, was stunned. He stared at Kai, now in his body, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You… you did what?” he scribbled hastily on a piece of paper, his hand shaking slightly.

Kai chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, it was unexpected,” he said, scratching the back of his head. He came forward, as he slowly sat on the edge of the intricately carved wooden bed. “Well, she didn’t know that we switched bodies, so…”

Ray was silent for a moment, processing the information. He looked at Kai, his expression unreadable. Then, he picked up his pen and started to write again. “And what about you?” he asked, his gaze fixed on Kai.

Kai paused, his eyes slightly narrowed. “I was surprised, of course,” he said, his voice soft. “But I couldn’t push her away.” He shifted his gaze towards the right side, acting shy.

Ray’s grip on the pen tightened. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “I see,” he wrote, his handwriting a bit shaky. His eyes filled with a mix of emotions, as he asked. “And her?”

Kai was taken aback by the question. He looked at Ray, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I… I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I guess… she liked it… maybe…”

As he said so, Ray lowered his head as he nodded. Kai looked at him, as he mused to himself. “He’s a tough nut to crack, huh…”

Kai slightly smirked, elaborating further. “Well, it didn’t end there.” Ray slightly flinched, as Kai continued. “After that, we just kept going on and on…,” Kai said, his voice filled with amusement. Ray started to shake, his eyes growing wider with each passing moment.

“And then we…” Kai continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

But just then, suddenly, Ray lunged at him, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him vigorously. The only thought running through Ray’s mind was, “You scoundrel! Traitor!” He continued to shake Kai, his grip tightening on his collar.

Meanwhile, Kai was trying to suppress his laughter. “Okay… I got my answers,” he mused, holding Ray’s hands to steady him. “Will you calm down?” he asked, noticing the tears streaming down Ray’s face. He paused, wondering to himself. "Did I went too far?" Kai facepalmed, realizing he might have taken the joke too far. “Oi, I was only joking,” he said, trying to reassure Ray.

Ray paused, as he slowly looked up at Kai, wiping his tears away. His head tilted in confusion as he tried to process what Kai had just said. Kai picked up the notebook and pen and handed them to Ray. “I just wanted to see your reactions, so I made up a story,” he explained, chuckling at Ray’s reaction.

Ray’s eyes widen, his mind still trying to process everything. Kai reached out to him, trying to comfort him. “Hey, I already told you, it was just a jo-” Before he could finish his sentence, Ray lunged at him again, shaking him vigorously. Kai tried to calm him down, “Oi, I already said it was a joke! Stop, stop!!”

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After some time, Ray finally stopped shaking him. He released his grip on Kai’s collar, his body slumping in exhaustion. He looked at Kai, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. Kai sighed in relief, patting Ray’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.

“Ray, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Kai said, his voice soft. “I just wanted to lighten the mood. I didn’t realize you would take it so seriously.”

Ray picked up the pen and started to write on the notebook, “It’s not about the joke. It’s about Nino.”

"Oho~ So finally admitting it yourself, huh." Kai mused internally, as he read the note. A mischievous smile began to form on his face, as he said; “Uh-huh, I see, I see. So, it’s about her, huh~” He leaned back, as he continued. “Why, of course. It has to be about her,” he said, his voice filled with a playful tone.

Ray flushed, feeling embarrassed, quickly looked away. Kai started to chuckle, finding Ray’s reaction amusing.

Kai looked at Ray, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “So, you like her, huh?” he asked, a wide grin spreading across his face. Ray, still in Kai’s body, blushed furiously, avoiding Kai’s gaze. He nodded slowly, confirming Kai’s suspicion. Kai smiled at the answer, as he stood up and paced near the window, taking a glimpse of the palace courtyard.

His smile faded, as he asked him another question. “If so, then why do you always give her the cold shoulder?” he asked looking back at him, his tone serious. Ray’s expression changed instantly, his eyes clouding over with a mix of sadness and regret. Images of his past, of being bullied by other noble kids, flashed through his mind.

Kai, quick to notice the change, leaned by the window, concern etching his features. “What’s the story, Ray?” he asked, his voice soft. But Ray, in Kai’s body, could only manage a small smile. He picked up a pen and scribbled on a piece of paper, “Once I am back in my body, I will tell you the whole thing.”

Kai read the note and nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Both of them look towards the door, as they hear the voice behind it. “Young Master, the Archduke and the Archduchess are here to see you,” a maid announced.

Kai and Ray exchanged a glance. “Just play like before,” Kai whispered, his gaze serious. Ray nods, his expression determined. Ray, in Kai’s body, quickly rose to the bed, while Kai, in Ray’s body, picked up the wig lying beside the pillow and placed it on Ray’s head, before settling back into the chair.

The door creaked open, and Hiro and Sakura stepped into the room. They saw Kai, who was actually Ray in Kai’s body, and rushed over to him. Sakura hugged him tightly, her voice filled with worry. “Are you alright, Kai?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

She started to check on him, while Hiro turned to Ray, who was actually Kai in Ray’s body, and asked, “I heard what happened. Are you both alright?” Unaware of the body swap, they waited for their responses.

Ray, in Kai’s body, was unsure how to respond to Sakura’s concern. Meanwhile, Kai, in Ray’s body, quickly answered Hiro. “Everything’s fine, da- I mean, Uncle. When me and Kai were in the library, some books fell on our heads. They were a bit heavy so we both got knocked out,” he explained, glancing at Ray.

“Is that so,” Sakura sighed, her worry easing a bit. “I thought something happened to both of you.” To this, Kai, in Ray’s body, smiled, while Hiro and Sakura continued to ask Kai, who was actually Ray, if he was feeling any pain. Ray, in Kai’s body, was struggling to keep up with the track of questions, while Kai, in Ray’s body could only smile at the view.

After some time, they both exited the room, mentioning they would talk with Maximus about something and then they would depart together. As they left the room, Ray, in Kai’s body, let out the sigh he had been holding.

Kai, in Ray’s body, stood up. “Okay then, I will go keep the artifact in your room, alright?” He started to walk away when Ray pulled on him. He quickly scribbled a note saying, “Wait! There’s something very important I have to tell you about.”

To this, Kai just looked at him, wondering what’s so important.

-To be Continued